# Hortense Hot Spring, Colorado

Hortense Hot Spring in Colorado. 181°F (83°C). Short Walk. Chaffee County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/hortense-hot-spring
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Hortense Hot Spring?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 181°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 181°F (83°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 8,300 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Chaffee County |
| Nearest town | Buena Vista |
| Coordinates | 38.73200, -106.17800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | MOUNT PRINCETON, 2.7 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 181°F, the source water at Hortense Hot Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Hortense Hot Spring

Hortense Hot Spring is scalding at the source. This is Chaffee County, seven miles or so from Buena Vista, and the USGS thermal point here carries a reading hot enough to cause burns on contact. There is no chemistry sample attached. Who owns the land and who may visit are not recorded. Buena Vista is the town to base from.

The record puts the spring a fifth of a mile off an unnamed road, so count on a short walk. Elevation is high valley country. Snowfall runs a bit over five feet in a normal winter and the climate is fairly dry. Mount Princeton campground is the one camp listed, under three miles off.

December through February score best. Keep your hands out of the water at the source; the reading is far beyond what skin tolerates. Access and ownership are both blank, so treat this as unverified ground. Camping at Mount Princeton campground is close by. Nobody has logged water chemistry.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Buena Vista](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/buena-vista), 1 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [Aqua Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/aqua-hot-spring): TDS 143 mg/L, Roadside, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County, private, no public access, pools 101–108°F, overnight guests only, year-round
- [Mount Princeton Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/mount-princeton-hot-springs): 133°F source, pH 7.7, Roadside, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County, developed pools, pools 82–99°F, $40 day pass, year-round
- [Cottonwood Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/cottonwood-hot-springs): 136°F source, pH 8.5, Roadside, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County, developed pools, $45 day pass, year-round
- [Browns Canyon Warm Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/browns-canyon-warm-spring): 77°F source, pH 8.0, Roadside, near Salida, Chaffee County
- [Browns Grotto Warm Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/browns-grotto-warm-spring): 73°F source, pH 8.0, Short Walk, near Salida, Chaffee County
- [Salida Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/salida-hot-springs): pH 7.4, Roadside, near Salida, Chaffee County, developed pools, $17 day pass, year-round

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hortense Hot Spring?**
Hortense Hot Spring has a water temperature of 181°F (83°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hortense Hot Spring located?**
Hortense Hot Spring is located in Chaffee County, Colorado at 8,300 feet elevation, near Buena Vista. Coordinates: 38.7320°N, 106.1780°W.

**How do I get to Hortense Hot Spring?**
Hortense Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Hortense Hot Spring?**
Yes, Mount Princeton is located nearby (2.7 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Hortense Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Hortense Hot Spring reaches 181°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals